Vehbi Koç

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Vehbi Koç : biography

July 20, 1901 – February 25, 1996

Vehbi Koc was the honorary chairman for Gençlerbirliği S.K. in Ankara.

Vehbi Koç Vakfı Koç Özel Lisesi (The Koç High School) was opened in 1987, and Koç University opened its classroom doors in 1993.

Understanding the importance of family planning in Turkey, Vehbi Koç established the Türkiye Aile Sağlığı ve Planlaması Vakfı (The Turkish Family Health and Planning Foundation) and functioned as the president of the foundation until his death.

Snatching of his body

On October 24, 1996, the corpse of Vehbi Koç was snatched from his grave. After some time, the body snatchers called the Koç family and demanded a ransom. As the family refused to pay, they applied to the TV channel Kanal D, owned by Aydın Doğan, demanding 20 billion TL (around US$210,000 at that time). Since Kanal D showed no interest, the body snatchers called the TV channel InterStar, owned then by Cem Uzan, and reached an agreement to release the corpse against 25 billion TL (around US$260,000). Informed by the TV channel, the police captured two suspects, who came to the meeting point in a stolen car. Later, three other accomplices, including a woman and a hotel owner, were also arrested. Vehbi Koç’s corpse was found in another grave at the same cemetery not far from his resting place.

At the request of the public prosecutor, the remains were taken to the city forensic medicine laboratory for identification by DNA profiling. Finally, the remains were reinterred in the presence of the family members.

Quotes

In "Targets and Principles", a document published for employees working in his companies, he states, "My constitutional law is this: I exist if my country and my state exists. We all exist if there is democracy. We must put in our best efforts into strengthening the economy of our country. As our economy strengthens, democracy will take a stronger hold and our credibility in the world will increase".

Death

Vehbi Koç died due to heart failure on February 25, 1996 at 18:33 local time in a hotel in Antalya, where he was with his daughter Sevgi and son-in-law for celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. His corpse was transported the same evening to Istanbul by the Koç Holding’s business jet. On February 27, 1996, after funeral service held at the holding’s headquarter and later in Fatih Mosque, he was laid to rest at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.

He is succeeded by his son Rahmi Koç (1930), and his daughters Semahat Arsel (1928), Sevgi Gönül (1938–2003) and Suna Kıraç (1941).

Publications

  • "Hayat Hikayem" (Story of My Life), 1973 (Turkish and English)
  • "Hatıralarım, Görüşlerim, Öğütlerim" (My Memories, Visions, Advices), 1987 (Turkish and English)